53rd FOLAC
LATIN AMERICAN
AND CARIBBEAN
FORUM

From January 15th to 18th, 2025
Fortaleza - CE, Brazil

DAYS

HOURS

MIN

SEC

PLENARY SESSIONS

Ceara
Events Center

ACCOMMODATION

Official
Hotels

TOURISM

Official
Agency

PARADE

Avenue
Beira Mar

PHOTOS OF THE
EVENT

History
of PIM

The rounded shape of the Pim represents the perfection of Lionism, the infinity of our century-old institution and the union founded on companionship that brings together all Lions members. The outer circle forms a crown that, with its upper stems, transforms into a headdress, an adornment of indigenous clothing that represents the struggle and resistance of this people, as well as the need to maintain the centrality of positive thoughts. The tips of the headdress made of feathers symbolize that man needs to have lightness and flexibility as a person and the open design of the headdress portrays the search for new knowledge and experiences. The molded headdress with its colorful plumes represents respect for diversity among people and also the plurality of colors present in the flags of the Brazilian States. In its upper central part, the image of an arrowhead stands out, a weapon of combat that translates superior knowledge, openness to the unknown, penetration into the target that are our goals of humanitarian actions in favor of our service to global causes. The arrow that is also used by Cupid to point the way to love triggers in us a state of deep passion that nourishes the feeling that moves us for the Lionistic cause. The figure of the headdress pays homage to the culture and ethnicity of the indigenous population that are our first inhabitants, here inspired by the character of the Indian Iracema, sung in the poem by Ceará native José de Alencar as the Virgin of Honey Lips, who became an icon and postcard of the City of Fortaleza. On the inside we glimpse the map of Brazil, where the four Multiple Districts (LA, LB, LC and LD) are located, operating in our national territory and where we glimpse, geographically placed in the heart of Brazil, the logo of our Lions Organization, a living presence in our nation and the logo of our greatest activity, which is the LEO Club. The green color of our forest and vegetation, the yellow color of our gold and our natural riches, the blue color of our sky and our rivers and the white color that reflects the Our desire for peace are present in this PIM, all combining to highlight the royalty of our Flag, the sublime flag of our beloved Homeland. We can also see the presence of the Sun, rising and setting on the horizon over the greenish blue of our seas, revealing the warm name of our Fortress as the City of Light or as the Blonde Married to the Sun and of the State of Ceará, of which it is the Capital. Set in the colorful green of the hope of seeing and having all the Lions that are part of Latin America and the Caribbean with us, the date of the event, January 15-18, 2025, where the 53rd Edition of FOLAC will take place, emerges in white letters painted in the color of peace.

Message from
Our Director

PDG Carlos Antônio Martins
General Director

Fellow Lions, Lion Tamers, Leos who make Lionism thriving within Constitutional Area III.

We share with everyone the joy of meeting you again in Arequipa, where we celebrate the holding of another edition of our FOLAC.

Paraphrasing the Philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus who once said that “No man can bathe twice in the same river… for the second time the river is no longer the same, nor is the man”, I now say that the same Lion will never participate in the same FOLAC, for the next time it will no longer be the same LION and the FOLAC will now be another…

Brazil hosted the 1st edition of FOLAC in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, in 1972. Ten years later, in 1982, we held the 11th edition in Curitiba, PR. After that, 15 years passed and once again in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, we hosted the Forum for the third time. Finally, after another 11 years, the city of Goiânia, GO, through the Multiple District LB, hosted the 4th edition of FOLAC in Brazil, in January 2008. This was the 1st FOLAC with Brazil redistributed into four Multiple Districts, which are geographically located in the North and Northeast Regions (DM-LA), Central-West Region (DM-LB), Southeast Region (DM-LC) and South Region (DM-LD).

In 2025, 17 years after its last edition in our country, the Brazilian Lions Family comes to Peru to officially receive the FOLAC Flag and thus fulfill the mission of welcoming all of you on the occasion of the 53rd FOLAC which will take place in January 2025.

From the 15th to the 18th of next year, we will host the Latin American and Caribbean Forum (FOLAC) for the 5th time in our country, in a pioneering way in the Northeast Region of Brazil, in the State of Ceará, which is called the Land of Light and in the Capital Fortaleza, known nationally as the City of Light, both titles due to the presence of 300 days of sunshine per year in these locations.

In 2025, Brazil, as well as the entire Constitutional Area III, will have reasons for joy and happiness, since in this 2024/2025 AL that is already approaching its beginning, in addition to the privilege of being the Host Country of the next FOLAC, we will also have the honor of having a Brazilian, from the Northeast, from the City of Catolé do Rocha, in the State of Paraíba, as President of the International Association of Lions Clubs, PID Fabrício Oliveira, together with his wife Cal Amariles.

Although our country is geographically divided into 4 Multiple Districts, we remain UNITED by Companionship in the ideal of serving the needy people of our country, and we will be more UNITED than ever in the preparations to promote one of the largest editions of FOLAC in its history.

Our Organizing Executive Committee is composed of great Lions leaders from Sub-District LA-4, which encompasses all Lions Clubs in the State of Ceará and its capital Fortaleza to the State of Ceará. However, in all Auxiliary Service Committees we will have the presence of Associates from the 4 Multiple Districts of Brazil, through their 28 Sub-Districts represented, whose leaders from each part of Brazil will spare no effort to demonstrate all our love for our AC III, working together for the success of FOLAC and thus contributing to the growth of Brazilian Lionism in the support of Campaign 1.5, aiming at the growth of Lions International.

Among the objectives of FOLAC, without a doubt, is the integration between nations and the manifestation of companionship among our Associates. Discovering new cultures, being able to meet new people and meet new people, makes us bigger and happier. Exchanging pins and, above all, sharing experiences is priceless.a

Ancient Eastern practice teaches us that when two people meet on the road and each of them carries a loaf of bread in their hands and they exchange their loaves, each of them keeps one loaf of bread and brings it back to their homes. But when two people meet on the road and each of them carries an idea in their head and they exchange their ideas, each of them keeps two ideas and brings them back to their homes. Therefore, we need to exchange more ideas so that we can find more ways to have more loaves of bread in our hands to distribute to those in need who are reached by our global humanitarian causes.

Brazil is a country with natural beauty and riches, a pleasant climate, varied cuisine and diverse culture, and should be fully enjoyed by FOLAC participants, who will come to Fortaleza to participate in our Forum, without prejudice to getting to know other splendid places.

Brazil is waiting for you. The Northeast is waiting for you. Ceará is waiting for you. Fortaleza is waiting for you. Tell each person who is by your side now. I am also waiting for you in Fortaleza!

So, PACK YOUR BAGS and come STRENGTHEN with us!

PDG Carlos Martins
General Director of the 53rd FOLAC